SPLC suit: Ala. not letting immigrants marry

The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed suit challenging policies in 54 of Alabama's 67 counties that prevent immigrants who can't prove they are in the country legally from marrying.

The lawsuit is separate from the SPLC's challenge of Alabama's new law cracking down on illegal immigrants.

The SPLC's legal director, Mary Bauer, said many of the counties had policies barring issuance of marriage licenses to illegal immigrants before the new immigration law passed the Legislature.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of U.S. citizen Linda Smith and an immigrant identified only as John Doe in the lawsuit. Smith has lived with the undocumented man for nine years and wants to become married to him. "Doe provides companionship and critical financial support to Smith and their family, including Smith's two children and grandchild," the SPLC said in a statement.

The suit says the couple was unable to get a license in Montgomery County.

Bauer cited official opinions by the Alabama Attorney General's office from 2004 in which it was stated "a marriage license can be issued to an applicant who is not a United States citizen." Bauer also said a 2008 AG opinion concluded a "social security number is not a required element for a person to receive a marriage license."

"Marriage licenses should be issued after a couple has professed their commitment to each other, not upon the showing of a nine-digit number," said Freddy Rubio, co–counsel on the case. "Hispanic immigrants share the same religious and family values with Alabamians. We value living with our partner within marriage. This type of policy undermines those traditional values."

The chief clerk for Montgomery County Probate Court, Wells Robinson, told WSFA 12 News the clerk's office had not heard about the law suit and would not comment on it at this time.

(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File). FILE - In this May 22, 2018 file photo, actor Morgan Freeman attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala in New York. Freeman is apologizing to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behavior....

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin). In this May 23, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. Two House lawmakers who are allies of President Donald Tr...

A briefing Thursday about classified documents will be for just two Republican House members, both Trump allies, as Trump and his supporters in Congress press for information on the outside informant.

The passenger jet was headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when it was was blown out of the sky over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 passengers and crew were killed. (Source: CNN)

An international team of investigators say that detailed analysis of video images has established that the Buk missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago came from a Russia-based...

An international team of investigators say that detailed analysis of video images has established that the Buk missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago came from a Russia-based military unit.

G. Lashun Hutson is currently an investigator for the town of Hayneville, but he has held previous roles with the Drug Task Force and as the chief investigator for the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office. (Source: WSFA 12 News)

G. Lashun Hutson is currently an investigator for the town of Hayneville, but he has held previous roles with the Drug Task Force and as the chief investigator for the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office. (Source: WSFA 12 News)

A 35-year public servant is in the running to be Lowndes County's sheriff.